Method of and apparatus for handling tubular knitted fabric



April 12, 1949. J. G. WALTER EFAL. 7

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TUBULAR KNITTED FABRIC 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1947 o: m m; ,w m? A ma 6 LA. M Q 0 v. r L

Apnl 12,.1949. J. G. WALTER rm. 2,467,281

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TUBULAR KNITTED FABRIC Filed April 10, 19.47 s Sheets-Sheet 2 PM 24.!4. I ITLM ATmRNEY'S J. G. WALTER ETAL 2,467,281- ME'I'HOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TUBULAR KNITTED FABRIC -6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 12,- 1949.

Filed April 16, I947 April 12, 1949. v J. G. WALTER EIAL 2,467,281

/ METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TUBULAR KNITTED FABRIC 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 10, 1947 April 12, 1949. J. G. WALTER EIAL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TUBULAR KNITTED FABRIC 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 10, 1947 INVENTOR.

JMn/z/ G44 4/ 44011 L'DA'M A TTORNE'YS Apnl 12, 1949. J. c. WALTER ETAL 2,467,281

' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING v TUBULAR KNITTED FABRIC Filed April 10, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I? gig/Q 62.; M4 M1. i-w ATTORNEXS Patented Apr. 12, 949

umreo STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HAN- DLING TUBULAR KNI'l'lED FABRIC tion, New York, N. York a co poration of New Application April 10, 1941, Serial No. 740,600 29 Claims. (01. 26-1) This invention relates to the handling of tubular textile fabric, and particularly to a method of and apparatus for slitting and sewing fabrics carrying stripes or designs to bring the stripes, for example, into register at the sewed edge.

In knitting tubular fabric, the threads are introduced from aplurality of spools and the stitches proceed in a helical fashion. addition of spools, the pitch of the helix becomes greater. In the high speed machines now in common use and employing many spools, the pitch is quite considerable. The effect is not particularly apparent in fabrics of uniform color. However, in the manufacture of striped fabrics or fabrics carrying other designs such as are now commonly used for the production of sport shirts, dresses and other garments, the helical pattern introduces serious diiliculty. The pattern can be demonstrated readily by beginning at one end of a length of the fabric and cutting along the line of a stripe. The cut will terminate at the opposite end of the length of the fabric, which will be reduced to a single elongated nibbon.

As, the result of this condition, which is inherent in the product of tubular knitting machines, the manufacturer of garments meets with difficulty in cutting the material. Since the ends of the stripes on opposite sides of one edge of the flattened tubular fabric do not register, the pieces cut from the material in the preparation for manufacture of garments cannot be matched properly at seams and around the shoulders and collar portions of the garment.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a commercially practicable method of and apparatus for slitting fabric, automatically registering the design at one edge and sewing the edge so that the design on both sides of the fabric.

is uniform.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple, effective and practical machine in which the tubular fabric is 'fed, slit along one edge, automatically adiusted to cause the design to register, and sewed in a continuous operation at relatively high speed.

will be apparent a it is better understood by with the reference to the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine adapted for the practice of the invention, certain parts being omitted for the purpose of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig, 3 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the operation of the belt which straightens the edges of the fabric;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of the machine;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a partial plan view illustrating another modification of the machine; and

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the machine as shown in Fig. 10.

In carrying out the present invention, the knitted tubular fabric in flattened condition is fed to a driven roll which introduces the fabric to the machine at a predetermined rate. This rate is governed by the tension on the fabric which must be maintained substantially constant. Control is effected by a dancer roll resting upon the fabric which in turn, through a variable speed mechanism hereinafter described, modifies the speed of the driven roll to maintain the feed at the desired rate.

The tubular fabric then passes over a spreader consisting of a frame having guide bar which engage opposite edges of the tubular fabric. The right-hand guide bar is fixed to align the edge of the' fabric with the cutter and other mechanism. The opposite guide bar is mounted upon slidable rods with connections permitting manual adjustment to the width of the fabric being treated. After initial adjustment, the movable guide bar can be shifted while the machine is in operation to apply the desired transverse tension and maintain the right-hand edge of the flattened fabric in the desired position for the operations which are performed thereon.

As the fabric moves over the spreader, the right-hand edge thereof is drawn into contact with a cutter which slits the folded edge of the fabric. This leaves two free edges of the upper and lower layers of fabric at which, for reasons already noted, the stripes do not register. The

. 3 word stripes hereinafter includes other designs on the fabric.

As the fabric continues to move forwardly, the upper layer is formed into a loop, the'size of which is adjustable: depending upon the pitch of the helix formed by the stnlpe in a particular fabric. By adjusting the loop, the stripe on the upper layer is brought into registry with the stripe on the lower layer. One method of forming the loop is to provide two rollers extending diagonally over the edge of the fabric on a pivoted support which permits universal adjustment through means provided for that purpose. The adjusting means enables the operator to modify the size of the loop so as to bring the stripes into registry 0.. the two free edges of the fabric.

It is a peculiarity of knitted fabric that, upon cutting, the edges immediately curl. In order to again sew the edges without too much loss of fabric, it is necessary to uncurl them continuously as they advance. This result is readily accomplished by means of a short belt rumiing upon pulleys and driven from the driving mechanism of the machine. The belt is preferably circular in cross-section and is made of rubber or some other suitable friction material. One run of the belt extends through a housing so that it does not engage the fabric. The other run engages the rolled edges of the fabric as the latter advances and, because the direction of movement of the belt is toward the edges, they are unrolled and flattened in readiness for sewing.

The sewing operation is effected by a standard sewing head, the details of which form no part of the present invention. Preferably a sewing head having an edge trimmer and adapted to produce a whipstitch is employed, and the seam is made closely adjacent the free edges of the fabric, so that there is little waste of material.

From the sewing unit the fabric passes off the end of the spreader which is preferably flattened at this point so that the sewed edges and the stripes on both sides of the fabric adjacent thereto are visible to the operator. By observing the fabric as it leaves the spreader, the operator can determine readily whether or not the stripes on the opposite sides of the fabric are matched. If, for any reason, after setting the machine. the stripes do not register, a simple adjustment varying the size of the loop in the upper layer of fabric will shift the stripes on that layer into registry with the stripes on the lower layer, and the operation may be continued without stopping the machine.

The apparatus as described permits continuous slitting and adjustment of the stripes on the two layers of fabric so that they register at the sewed edge. Since they are already in register at the opposite edge, the distortion due to the helical arrangement of the stitches is completely eliminated. The fabric, when re-rolled at the completion of the operation, is ready forlthe garment cutter, who no longer meets any diiiiculty in cutting patterns from the fabric in which the stripes can be satisfactorily matched.

Referring to the drawing, 5 and 6 indicate side frames which support the elements of the machine. The roll of tubular fabric 1 is supported in any suitable manner, preferably upon a plurality of rollers 8 mounted in brackets 9 at the bottom and at one end of the frame members 5 and 6. The fabric passes upwardly over a roller l0, preferably having a roughened surface supported in brackets I and adapted to be driven by a V-belt pulley l2 actuated as hereinafter de* scribed. The fabric then loops under a dancer roll l3 mounted on arms l4 secured to a shaft l5 which is pivoted in brackets IS on the frames 5 and 6. A bell crank I1 is mounted on the shaft l5 and carries variable speed V-belt pulleys l8 and IS, the function of which is hereinafter described. The dancer roll l3 serves the purpose of regulating the peripheral speed of the roller In in accordance with the tension on the fabric so that the tension is maintained uniform during the operation.

The fabric passes from the dancer roll l3 over an idler roll 20 supported on a bracket 2| and is then distended by spreaders 22 and 23, being supported by an idler roll 24 on a bracket 25. The spreaders are adapted to spread the fabric laterally at a uniform transverse tension. The spreader 22 is fixed, while the spreader 23 is supported on a rod 26 extending through a tubular member 21 to the side of the machine. The rod 26 may be adjusted laterally of the machine and held in the desired position by a thumbscrew 28 or other similar device.

The Spreaders 22 and 23 are further supported by a roller 29 extending transversely of the ma chine. and the fabric. after passing through the machine, is wound upon a mandrel 30 supported between vertical guide bars 3| at the end of the machine. The roll of fabric on the mandrel'30 is actuated by a roller 32 supported or a shaft 33 and adapted to be driven by a V-belt pulley 34 in the manner hereinafter described.

Mounted on two transverse rods 35 extending between the frames 5 and 6, is a motor 31 having a shaft 38 and carrying a circular cutting knife 39 which revolves continuously during the operation of the machine and slits one edge of the tubular fabric, thus affording an upper and a lower layer. As the fabric advances, the upper layer is looped over a roller 40 and under a roller 4| (see particularly Fig. 4). The rollers 40 and 4| are mounted on spindles extending from a bracket 42 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 43 mounted in a bracket 44 carrying the gear 45. The gear meshes with a pinion 46 on the spindle 41 carrying a knurled hand wheel 48. By manually operating the knurled wheel 48, the angular position of the rollers 40 and 4| may be adjusted as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, to increase or decrease the loop which is formed in the upper layer of the fabric. The size of the loop determines the relative adjustment of the upper layer of fabric with reference to the lower layer, causing the stripes 5| on the upper layer to be drawn rearwardly to a sufficient extent so that they register with the corresponding stripes on the lower layer, as indicated particularly at the right hand end of Fig. 5. This adjustment avoids the difliculty resulting from the helical form of the stripes in the fabric as initially knit.

After the loop has been formed in the manner described, the two layers of fabric converge. The upper layer is engaged by a plate 52 pivoted at 53 on a bracket 54 and pressed downwardly by a spring 55. The tension of the spring 55 can be adjusted by means of a screw 56. The lower layer of fabric is forced upwardly by a spring plate 51 secured to a bracket 58.

When a knitted fabric is slitted in the manner hereinbefore described, the edges immediately curl. It is necessary to stralghtenthe fabric. For this purpose, a belt 59 is supported on pulleys 60 and GI. The pulley 6| is splined on a stubmember shaft 42 carrying a gear 09 which is driven by a gear 94 on a shaft so that the belt follows the direction of the arrows on Fig. 4. The pulley 6| is supported by a spring 00 and is adjustable by means of a screw 61 supported in a bracket 98 and having a notched handwheel 09 which is engaged by a dog 10. Slight vertical adjustments of the belt 59 are thus made so that it will properly engage the fabric. The left-hand run of the belt 59 is covered by a guard plate 'II so that it does not engage the fabric. The right-hand run, as shown particularly in Fig. 7, engages the fabric between the plates 52 and 51, forcing the edges outwardly and into alignment so that they are no longer curled. The pulley 60 may be supported on a rod I2 which is mounted in a collar I3 and adjustable by means of a set screw 14 so that the proper tension of the belt 59 may be maintained.

The fabric, with its free edges in alignment and with the stripes 5| properly aligned as the result of the formation of the loop in the upper layer, passes to the sewing machine I5 which is adapted to be driven in the manner hereinafter described. The sewing machine, as a unit, forms no part of' the present invention. Any standard machine may be used for the purpose. A machine adapted to produce a whipstitch is preferably employed. The fabric with the free edges stitched togetherleaves the sewing machine and is rerolled as hereinbefore described.

Any suitable driving mechanism may be employed. One form of drive suitable for the machine is illustrated in which an electric motor I6 is suitably mounted beneath the frame and carries a variable speed vbelt pulley 11. Pulleys of the type described are well known in the art, and the details thereof form no part of the present invention. Consequently such details will not be described. A belt I8 connects the pulley 11 with the pulley I9 on a shaft 80 which is supported in brackets 8I suspended from a shaft 82 which extends transversely of the machine. The shaft 80 carries a second variable speed V-belt pulley 83 similar to the pulley 11 which is connected by a belt 84 to a v-belt pulley 85 on the main drive shaft 86.

To vary the speed of the machine, the brackets 8I are adapted to be shifted laterally by means of a hand wheel 81 on a. shaft 88 carrying a bevel ear 89 which meshes with the bevel gear 90. The latter is connected to the shaft of a worm wheel 9i engaging a worm 92 on the shaft 82. Thus, by shifting the position of the shaft 80, by swinging the brackets 8|, the relative pitch of the various pulleys may be modified to secure the desired speed of operation. Any other variable speed drive may be employed to actuate the main drive shaft 86.

The main drive shaft carries at one end a V-belt pulley 93 which is connected by a V-belt 94 to the pulley I8. A V-belt 95 connects the pulley I9 to the pulley I2. The pulleys I8 and I9 are of the variable speed type well known in the art. The shifting of the bell crank I! by slight variations in the tension of the fabric modifies the relative pitches of the pulleys I8 and I9 and hence the speed of the pulley I2. This minor adjustment occurs continuously during the operation of the machine to maintain uniform tension on the fabric.

A V-belt pulley 98 on the main drive shaft 86 is connected by a 'V-belt 9'I to a V-belt pulley 98 on the shaft 85, thus driving the belt 59 as hereinbefore described. A V-belt pulley 90 is connected by a V-belt III to a pulley III which is mounted on a bracket I02 pivoted at I08 on the frame of the machine. A hand-wheel I44 is mounted on the frame of the machine and provided with a screw I05 engaging the bracket I02 to adjust the tension of the belt I00. A V-belt I00 engages a pulley I01 and a pulley I09 which is connected to the drive shaft of the sewing machine, thus maintaining operation of the latter while the machine is running. The pulleys Ill and I01 are of the variable speed type, so that adjustment of the hand-wheel I04 modifies the speed of the sewing machine as required to effect the desired operation.

A pulley I09 on the main drive shaft 00 is connected by a belt IIO to a pulley III supported on a bracket II2 pivoted at II3. A hand-wheel I I4 is mounted on the frame of the machine and provided with a screw II! engaging the bracket II2. A pulley H6 is connected by a belt III to the pulley 34 on the shaft 93. The pulleys III and H0 are of the variable speed type. Thus, by manipulating the hand-wheel II4, the speed of the rewind roll 32 may be adjusted.

As indicated particularly in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, the spreader 22 has a flattened plate portion II! at its end. As the-fabric passes over this end of the spreader, it is spread vertically. Thus the operator may determine at a glance whether or not the stripes 5I are properly registered. If for any reason the stripes do not register, a slight adjustment of the knurled wheel 48 modifying the size of the loop will bring the stripes into adjustment without stopping the machine. In actual operation, when the machine has once been adjusted to a particular fabric, substantially no modification is necessary during the run because in knitting the fabric the stripes follow a uniform helical pattern which does not vary materially. Since the tension on the fabric is maintained automatically, in'the longitudinal direction, and is fixed in the lateral direction,-the adjustment of the loop to bring the stripes at the. opened edge into'registry should maintain that relation throughout the run of th particular fabric.

In Fig. 8, a modified form of the invention is illustrated. Since the parts are generally the same, the same reference numerals are applied and the description. hereafter embodies only the essential changes in the mechanism, which are concerned primarily with the means for spreading the fabric laterally. Thus, spreaders H9 and I20 are supported similarly to the spreaders 22 and 23. The spreader H9 is, however, provided with a driving belt I2I supported on rollers I22 and I23 and also with a roller I24. The edge of the fabric is engaged between the belt and roller I24 and a roller I25 supported on a spindle I26. The spindle I26 is driven by a worm I21. Similarly, the spreader I20 is provided with a belt I28 supported on rollers I29 and I30 and also with a roller I3I. The edge of the fabric is engaged between the belt and roller I3I and a roller I32 supported on the spindle I33 which is likewise driven by the worm I2'I. Thus a. positive drive is afforded to draw the fabric over the spreader and advance it through the mechanism.

The worm I2'I is driven by a V-belt pulley I34 which is connected by a V-belt I35 to a V-belt pulley I36 on the drive shaft I31. The latter shaft carries a V-belt pulley I38 which is connected by a V-belt I39 to a pulley I40 on the shaft 01 a motor I. The V-belt pulley I42 on the shaft Il'l is connected by a V-belt I43 td a V-belt pulley I is adapted to drive the fabric feeding mechanism at a uniform tension described.

Lateral adjustment of the spreaders II! and I25 is accomplished by means of a sleeve I and screw I" with an adjusting collar Ill. The position of the worm shaft I2! is also adjustable by means of a screw I which is actuated by a knurled hand-wheel I50. The respective drives for the edge-straightening belt, sewing machine and wind-up roll are identical with the previous embodiment of the invention and need not be described again in detail.

Referring to Figs. and 11, another embodiment involving the same principle but including a modified form of spreader is illustrated. Only the essential changes in the mechanism will be described. The spreader, in this case, consists of a floating loop I5I which is mounted between rollers I52 and I53 and carries a roller I54 at its forward end where it engages rollers I55 and I56 with the fabric disposed between the respective rollers. The rollers I55 and I56 are driven in any suitable manner and are adapted, therefore, to draw the fabric forwardly as it is fed and to deliver it to the wind-up mechanism indicated by the roller I51 and the roll of fabric I58 on the mandrel I59. Since the remaining elements of the structure are substantially as described in the first embodiment of the invention, the same reference numerals are employed, and further description will be unnecessary.

'The mechanism in the three modifications hereinbefore described and with other variations which will readily occur to one skilled in the art permit the operation of a method of handling striped knitted fabrics in which the fabric is fed continuously, slitted at one edge, looped in one layer to adjust the free edges of the fabric relatively and longitudinally, so that the stripes on the upper and lower layers are brought into alignment, and thereafter stitched to again in the manner hereinbefore afford a tubular fabric in which the stripes are aligned at both edges, thus avoiding "the dimculties heretofore met in cutting such fabrics for manufacture into garments. The method is capable of application through a variety of mechanical devices, its essential novelty residing in the formation of the loop in one of the layers of fabric to permit longitudinal adjustment relatively of the free lateral edges. The method as well as the apparatus as hereinbefore described performs an entirely novel function in that it has not been practicable heretofore to continuously and satisfactorily cut and reeform striped tubular knitted fabrics with the stripes properly registered at both edges of the fabric and thus avoid the result of the normal, helical arrangement of the stripe in the fabric.

Various changes may be made in the details of procedure and in the apparatus employed without departing from the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

We claim:

1. The method of modifying flattened tubular knitted fabrics to avoid the helical pattern thereof which comprises, advancing the flattened fabric continuously, slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, causing one layer of the fabric to follow an elongated path with reference to the path of the opposing layer to bring the design on the separated edges into register, and sewing the separated edges so that the fabric is restored to tubular form.

2. The method of modifying flattened tubular knitted fabrics to avoid the helical pattern thereof which comprises, advancing the flattened fabric continuously while maintaining substantially uniform longitudinal and transverse tension on the fabric, slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, causing one layer of the fabric tofollow an elongated path with reference to the path of the opposing layer to bring the design on the separated edges into register, and sewing the separated edges so that the fabric is restored to tubular form.

3. The method of modifying flattened tubular knitted fabrics to avoid the helical pattern thereof which comprises, advancing the flattened fabric continuously, slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, causing one layer of the fabric to follow an elongated path with reference to the path of the opposing layer to bring the design on the separated edges into register,

adjusting the length of the elongated path to compensate for variations in register, and sewing the separated edges so that the fabric is restored to tubular form. I

4. The method of modifying flattened tubular knitted fabrics to avoid the helical pattern of the design thereon which comprises, advancing the flattened fabric continuously, slitting the fabric at one'side to provide separated edges, relatively adjusting the edges of the fabric to bring the design on the separated edges into register, progressively uncurling said edges and sewing them together while maintaining them uncurled and in alignment so as to give the fabric a tubular formation.

5. The method of modifying flattened tubular knitted fabrics to avoid the helical pattern of the design thereon which comprises, advancing the flattened fabric continuously while maintaining substantially uniform longitudinal and transverse tension on the fabric, slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, relatively adlusting the edges of the fabric to bring the design on the separated edges into register, progressively uncurling said edges and sewing them together while maintaining them uncurled and in alignment so as to give the fabric a tubular formation.

6. The method of modifying flattened tubular knitted fabrics to avoid the helical pattern of the design thereon which comprises, advancing the flattened fabric continuously, slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, relatively adjusting the edges of the fabric to bring the de-= sign on the separated edges into register, 'adlusting the length of the elongated path to compensate for variations in register, progressively uncurling said edges and sewing them together while maintaining them uncurled and in align-' edgesof the fabric, aligning the edges while uncurled, trimming said uncurled edges of the fab- 8. The method of modifying flattened tubular knitted fabrics to avoid the helical pattern of the design thereon which comprises, advancing the flattened fabric continuously while maintaining substantially uniform longitudinal and transverse tension on the fabric, slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, causing one layer of the fabric to follow an elongated path with reference to the path of the opposing layer to bring the design on the separated edges into register, progressively uncurling the edges of the fabric, aligning the edges while uncurled, trimming said uncurled edges of the fabric, and securing the edges together to form a tube while maintaining the edges uncurled and in alignment.

9. The method of modifying flattened tubular knitted fabrics to avoid the helical pattern of the design thereon which comprises, advancing the flattened fabric continuously, slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, causing one layer of the fabric to follow an elongated path with reference to the path of the opposing layer to bring the design on the separated edges into register, adjusting the length of the elongated I path to compensate for variations in register, progressively uncurling the edges of the fabric, aligning the edges while uncurled, trimming said uncurled edges of the fabric, and securing the edges together to form a tube while maintaining the edges uncurled and in alignment. 7

10. Inan apparatus for modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric, the combination of a frame, means thereon for advancing the flattened fabric continuously, means forslitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, means for causing one layer of the fabric to follow an elongated path with reference to the path of the other layer to bring the design on the separated edges into register, and means for sewing the edges together.

11. In an apparatus for modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric, the combination of a frame, means thereon for advancing the flattened fabric continuously, means for slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, means for causing one layer of the fabric to follow an elongated path with reference to the path of the other layer to bring the design on the separated edges into register, including a pair of separated rollers and means for sewing the edges together.

12. In an apparatus for modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric, the combination of a frame, means thereon for advancing the flattened fabric continuously, means for slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, means for causing one layer of the fabric to follow an elongated path with reference to the path .of the other layer to bring the design on the separated edges into register, including a pair of separated rollers and means for adjusting the angular position of the rollers,.and means for sewing the edges toether.

13. In an apparatus for modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric, the combination of a frame, means thereon for advancing the flattened fabric continuously, means for slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, means for causing one layer of the fabric to follow an elongated path with reference to the path of the other layer to bring the design on the separated edges into register, means for flattening the separated edges, including a traveling belt adapted to en- 10 gage the edges of the advancing fabric, and means for sewing the edges together.

14. In an apparatus for modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric, the combination of a fabric continuously, means for maintaining substantially uniform longitudinal tension on the advancing fabric, means for slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges. means for 10 causing one layer of the fabric to follow an elongated path with reference to-the path of the other layer to bring the design on the separated edges into register, and means for sewing the edges together.

15. In an apparatus .for modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric, the combination of a frame, means thereon for advancing the flattened fabric continuously, means for maintaining substantially uniform longitudinal and transverse m tension on the fabric, means for slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, means for causing one layer of the fabric to follow an elongated path with reference to the path of the other layer to bring the design on the separated g5 edges into register, and means for sewing the edges together.

16. In an apparatus for modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric, the combination of a frame, means thereon for advancing the flattened fabric continuously, means for slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, means for relatively adjusting the separated edges to bring the design on the separated edges into register, and means for securing the edges together.

17. In an apparatus for modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric, the combination of a frame, means thereon for advancing the flattened fabric continuously, means for maintaining substantially uniform longitudinal tension on the 40 advancing fabric, means for slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, means for relatively adjusting the separated edges to bring the design on the separated edges into register, and means for securing the edges together.

18. In an apparatus for modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric, the combination of a frame, means thereon for advancing the flattened fabric continuously, means for maintaining substantially uniform longitudinal and transverse tension on the advancing fabric, means for slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, means for relatively adjusting the separated edges to bring the design on the separated edges into register, and means for securin the edges together.

19. In an apparatus for modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric, the combination of a.

frame, means thereon for advancing the flattened fabric continuously, means for slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, means for relatively adjusting the separated edges to bring the design on the separated edges into register, means for flattening the separated edges including a traveling belt adapted to engage the edges of the advancing fabric, and means for sewing the edges together.

20. In an apparatus for modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric, the combination of a frame, means thereon for advancing the flattened fabric continuously, means for slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, means for causing one layer of the fabric to follow an elongated path with reference to the path of the other layer to bring the design on the separated edges into register, belt means for uncurling the open frame, means thereon for advancing the flattened edges of said fabric and stitching means adjacent said uncurling means for stitching said open edges together and forming a tube.

21. In an apparatus for modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric, the combination of a frame, means thereon for advancing the flattened fabric continuously, means for slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, means for relatively adjusting the separated edges to bring the design on the separated edges into register, belt means for uncurling said fabric edges and temporarily maintaining said edges in flat form, and stitching means adjacent said uncurling means for stitching said open edges together and forming a tube.

22. In an apparatus for modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric, the combination of a frame, means thereon for advancing the flattened fabric continuously, means for maintaining substantially uniform longitudinal tension on the advancing fabric, means for slitting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, means for relatively adjusting the separated edges to bring the design on the separated edges into register, belt means for uncurling said fabric edges and temporarily maintaining said edges in flat form, and stitching means adjacent said uncurling means for stitching said open edges together and forming a tube.

23. Apparatus for uncurling the edges of a traveling strip of fabric consisting of equal superposed plies of fabric with free edges including a belt disposed between the plies having substantiupper and lower plies of said fabric respectively,

and means for driving said belt so that said portions engaging the fabric travel in a direction transverse to that of the fabric strip.

25. Apparatus for uncurling the edges of a traveling strip of fabric consisting of equal superposed plies of fabric with free edges including belt means disposed between the plies, one run of the belt means engaging the fabric, a plate separating 12 the other run of the belt means from the fabric, said belt means being driven at high speed and flattening the fabric edges passing thereover.

26. Apparatus for uncurling the edges of a traveling strip of fabric consisting of equal superposed plies of fabric with free edges, means for uncurling and sewing said free edges consisting of a friction belt having one run engaging said fabric between the two plies and moving in a direction transverse to the line of travel of said fabric to uncurl the upper and flwer plies of said fabric at said open edges and temporarily to maintain said edges in flat form, a plate separating the other run of the belt from the fabric and stitching mechanism adjacent said belt for stitching said open edges together and forming a tube.

27. The method of modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric which comprises advancing the flattened fabric continuously, cutting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, relatively adjusting the edges of the fabric to bring the design into register and securing the separated edges so that the fabric is restored to tubular form.

28. The method of modifying flattened tubular knitted fabric which comprises advancing the flattened fabric continuously while maintaining substantially uniform longitudinal and transverse tension on the fabric, cutting the fabric at one side to provide separated edges, relatively adjusting the edges of the fabric to bring the design into registerand securing the separated edges so that the fabric is restored to tubular form.

29. The method of modifying slit tubular knitted fabric which comprises advancing the slit fabric continuously, relatively adjusting the edges of the fabric to bring the design into register and securing the separated edges so that the fabric is restored to tubular form.

JULES G. WALTER. SAMUEL COHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 385,315 Morley et ai June 26, 1888 1,044,168 Grossenbach Nov. 12, 1912 2,021,025 Saftlas Nov. 12, 1935 2,171,741 Cohn et al Sept. 5, 1939 2,321,010 Cohn June 8, 1943 2,410,146 Birch Oct. 29, 1946 

